The Father who can only ever be Father
I led them with cords of human kindness,
With bands of love. Hosea 11:4
Read Luke 15:11—24
Tonight I have an insight not only into my heart as I come before God, but into God’s heart as God meets me. From my side, I rush to all the ways I fall short. The way I have denied my true identity as God’s child. My failure to be a credit to him. My failure even in my own eyes. I can run through the reasons why I have no place at the table. I am no longer worthy to be called God’s son or daughter. But the Father will have none of it. Not because it is untrue, but because he must be true to himself, and he can only ever be Father. Therefore I can only come as his child, his beloved, the restored one, who belongs, and is feted and celebrated.
Prayer
Before your grace, Father, before your abounding love, before your very character and nature when you are true to yourself as Father, before all this I can only be humbled. I can only be grateful. Wretched in my self, I am treasured and restored before you. I know this as forgiveness. I experience it as gratitude. I access it as your child. As child within the family I can only ask for a full heart to share in what you would now have me do. You love me as the expression and outcome of your love for your own Son. He came to the far country to find me. I am still, this night, pinching myself that I am found in him. It will always be so.